Now, I made a go at a fusion of these two before, but I don't fit into the
madhouse that is Ohtori Academy *nearly* as well as one of my rivals...
So I'm sending her there to see how she fares.
This is, by the way, beyond the sections that Software Sculptors has brought
across thus far, but bear with it. There won't be any significant spoilers
(heck, there ain't much to spoil - it's *that* confusing, if you ask me)
==========
"Onii-sama!"
An index finger, feminine and delicate, nail painted black, in the firm grip
of a masculine hand, pressed down upon the page.
Her fingerprint. Briefly, she considered smearing it so that the print would
be unrecognizable. But she rejected that as futile. It wasn't as if the
records department checked the individual loops and whorls of each print.
What mattered was that an imprint was there, and not whose it really was or
how it got put there.
Under duress and under protest. That's how she was going. But she *was*
going. The Catholic reform school had done her no good, so she was being
shipped away. "It is for your own good, sister," were his very words, deep
and terrible, like the very abyss itself.
No, it wasn't! He was just shoving her out of the way so he could pursue
that awful red-haired witch! And he was *ruining* her chances at her dear
Ranma-sama! She beat on his chest with her fists, but her brother stood
firm, impassive. Finally, his hand reached out and grabbed her wrists.
"That hurt, you know." His voice was flat and lifeless, as if to suggest
just the opposite of his words. His words held a dangerous edge, though... a
suggestion that he could quite easily return the favor as she squirmed in his
grip.
"Grrr... let me go, brother!"
"No. Not until I see you off to your new school. Then, believe me, I will
be *glad* to let go of you... permanently. I have had it with your
interference."
"And I have had it with yours! What makes you think you have any right to do
this to me?"
"Because..." and he brought his face within inches of hers. She could bite
his nose off, if she dared, from this distance. "Mother is dead, Father is a
gibbering imbicile, and you..." he pulled away, drawing himself to his full
height and assuming a disdainful countenance, "are dangerously close to
imitating one of our parents, I know not which. This should prevent that, or
at least stave it off. What Saint Hebereke failed to do, Ohtori should
accomplish. They know how to keep students *in*line* down here."
"Oh, and *you* have no need of being kept *in*line*. *You* are a shining
pillar of sanity, the glory of the Kuno clan," she fairly spat at him, still
struggling in his grip.
He tilted his face slightly, so that he was looking at her, but clearly
looking down at her. "I am the closest the Kuno name has for now. And
*that* is why I can do this, sister. And that is why I *shall*..."
Kodachi Kuno continued to writhe in her brother's grip as they walked out of
the vaulted admissions office. The white-haired young man behind the desk
had not so much as glanced as the squabbling pair, devoting his attention
completely to his computer.
But as the door slammed behind them, Mikage Souji allowed himself a slight
smile...
The way before him had been prepared...
---------------------
SHE OF THE BLACK ROSE
a Utena - Ranma 1/2 crossover
by Ukyou Kuonji
---------------------
In the depths of Nemuro Memorial Hall at Ohtori Academy, a dim blue light
flickered on, breaking the Stygian darkness. The light fell from somewhere
above, but from no visible source. The one meter-by-two meter space the
light fell upon was occupied by a large glass tank, barely half full of water.
In the middle of the water stood a single black rosebud.
A dark-skinned face looked down upon the rosebud, and slowly broke into a
smile.
***
She stood, alone, in the middle of the room. Her room, for as long as she
could stand it here. It was empty aside from the few articles of furniture
it came with, and they were still swathed in sheets yet.
Tatewaki-oniisama had already left, taking the car with him. She was
effectively marooned here at Ohtori Academy. How could he do such a thing?
An embarrassment, that's what he said she was. An interference. Couldn't he
see she was trying to rescue him from that awful, low-born, low-bred,
pig-tailed wench?
And this was gratitude. Abandoned countless prefectures from Tokyo and home.
Oh, it was a pretty enough place... it certainly held her class of people...
why, it was even co-educational! But for all the boys here, there would be
no Ranma-sama. And that made all the difference.
A tear ran down her cheek and splashed onto the wood floor. She did not
notice the pattern the impact had made.
The stain was like a blossoming rose...
***
"U-ten-a!"
The pink-haired girl froze. She knew what was coming, and had to brace
herself for it before...
*whoomph* Too late. Utena staggered slightly under Wakaba's weight, before
steadying herself enough to turn and look at her friend. "It this really
necessary, Wakaba?"
"Hn? But of *course* it is! I've got to show the *world* how much I love my
Utena-sama!" Wakaba's embrace was like a death grip, and Utena found herself
wondering if there still wasn't a better way for Wakaba to express her
affection. Or at least a safer one...
Finally, after all of thirty seconds, Wakaba let go of her friend and dropped
to the floor. Utena took the opportunity to take a deep gulp of air before
sighing heavily.
"Really, Utena-sama, you need to drink more milk! Look at you, you're all
stooped over!"
"Gee... I wonder how that happened." Utena stretched herself up to her full
height.
If Wakaba noticed the mild sarcasm in the question - or if she even noticed
the question at all - she gave no indication of it. "Ne, ne, did you hear
about the new girl on the gymnastics team?"
"Gymnastics team?" Was this another dig about her sore back?
"Oh, yeah... she just transferred in from Tokyo, would you believe, and she's
really good. They say she's a vicious competitor, too... we'll be a cinch to
win regionals this year, maybe even a shot at the nationals!"
"Is that so... ?"
***
Graceful hands, still polished black at the tips, gripped the beam tightly.
Directly above them, arms rigid and unmoving as stone, Kodachi slowly
scissored her legs out into a perfect split, then returned to a vertical
handstand. Her back arched as she brought her feet to bear on edge of the
beam. Upon regaining her footing, she spun around and concentrated on her
dismount.
*tup*tup*tup*pm* A handspring at full gallop, and then she pushed off with
her hands, willing herself to spin as she somersaulted off the beam.
*pbsh* She landed, toes first, in a slightly crouched position, before
springing to a full victory stance. Her trademark laugh, which terrified
Heberekens and opponants alike back home, was drowned out by the applause of
her new classmates.
"Well done, Miss Kuno." The coach walked up to her, shaking his head. "I
don't know if there's anything more I can teach you. Where did you say you
transferred from? Saint...?"
"Hebereke."
"Riight," The man rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "They must have one
hell of a program up there."
Kodachi very nearly blushed. "Well, they had one of the best teams in
Tokyo..." But then I left...
"Perhaps, after school, you could show us more of your skills. I think you
have a lot to teach the other girls, and if they can learn, we may be able to
do Ohtori proud at regionals... don't you think?" That last was addressed to
the girls sitting around the balance beam, awe in their faces, and a
respectful murmur went up in affirmation.
Kodachi beamed at the welcome she was getting from these girls. She hated to
admit that her brother could ever possibly be right, but just maybe he wasn't
as wrong as she first thought.
***
"Sempai... look."
Face illuminated from beneath by the mysterious glow of the hydroponic tank,
Mikage Souji arched an eyebrow. "Where did that one come from? I thought we
were down to one..."
The dark-skinned youth looked up from the black rosebud floating in the tank.
"You should know, sempai. You know who comes and goes in Ohtori better than
anyone. Surely you've met her."
"A new Duellist?"
"But of course."
"You know that Tenjou has fought each of the Council at least twice, now.
And beaten them all." The youth arched an eyebrow at Mikage's statement, but
the older student continued. "Oh, come now, Mamiya. Don't tell me that the
Duellists we recruited were anything more than shadows of the Council members
whose soul-swords they wielded. The time has come to find someone with
unfamiliar skills..."
"And catch Tenjou Utena off guard, ne? Very clever, sempai..." Mamiya
resumed staring at the rosebud, "...if it works."
A petal peeled itself from the rosebud, and landed gently on the waters'
surface. The two boys looked at each other with somewhat worried expressions.
***
"You want me to lead a gymnastics seminar? I'd... be happy to, sensei..."
Kodachi's smile both widened and grew slightly crooked. What had she chosen
those words? Was she really, actually *happy*?
She felt a slight twinge, as though her insides were being pricked by thorns.
Her smile metamorphosed into a wince, and then a grimace.
"Ah... could we schedule it for possibly next week, though, instead?"
***
Deep in the bowels of Nemuro Memorial Hall, the outer petals began peeling
away from the bud...
The flower was about to bloom.
The two boys looked at each other, and grinned.
***
"OHH-HOHOHOHOHO!!" Kodachi bounded out of the gymnasium, exultant despite
her earlier pain. A spray of black roses followed in her wake. Fortunately,
she had been the last to leave, so there were no other students to alarm with
her antics - not that that was ever a concern before.
She had found a niche for herself here, in only a few short days. It was
nice to have a unique skill...
Speaking of which, she recalled there being a greenhouse somewhere in the
quad, according to the brochures. It would behoove her to pay the place a
visit, and add her own... special touches... to it.
===========
Yes, I want to turn Dachi-chan into a duellist, but I'm not sure how. I can
see her enjoying life at Ohtori, which would slow things down... I can also
see her resenting Anthy's apparant monopolization of the rose garden, which
would speed her toward the Duelling Arena. I can also picture whose
soul-sword she'd be using and the oddities that would ensue (no, I'm not
telling)
Trouble is, Kodachi is a rather forceful character. She wouldn't accept the
rose from Mamiya - she'd have dozens of her own. She would probably duel
under her own set of rules - and by that reasoning, she might just win (and
we can't have that, now, can we?)
Anyway, it should be quite clear that I'm looking for some assistance on
this. Already, I'm pretty sure that Dachi-chan's a little, well, subdues in
this role... not quite as insane as convention has pictured her, nor enough
off-balance to warrant Tacchi-kun's treatment of her. So, those of you with
familiarity of both Ranma and Utena, I'd appreciate some help with this.
Thanks for your time, y'all...
Itsu mo,
Ucchan ^_^